Washington, DC (Sports Network) - It came a little earlier than expected, but
Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg apparently will not pitch
again this season.
Strasburg didn't make it past the third inning of Friday's start against Miami
and the Washington Post on Saturday reported that manager Davey Johnson has
informed the 24-year-old blossoming ace of the team's decision.
It was widely known that Strasburg would be shut down some time in September,
as the club had decided to limit his innings in his first full season
following Tommy John surgery.
Strasburg was tagged for five runs on six hits with three walks in just three
innings of Washington's 9-7 loss to the Marlins on Friday, and Johnson had
indicated after the game that the impending decision was likely weighing on
the 15-game winner's mind.
"To be honest with you, I think he's just thinking too much about the decision
of whether we are going to shut him down," Johnson said after Friday's 10-
inning loss. "He kind of wore it and he didn't like it."
In 28 starts this season, Strasburg has posted a record of 15-6 with a 3.16
ERA in 159 1/3 innings. It had been speculated that he had an innings limit of
no more than 180.
The Sports Network